Electron-discharge device



Jan. 7, 1930. w, A, RUGGL 1,742,935

ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed Jan. 27, l926 Inventor: William Afiuggles,

His Attprneg.

Patented Jan. 7, 1930 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM A. RUGGLES, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTRON-DISCHARGE DEVICE Application filed. January 27, 1926. Serial No. 84,239.

My present invention relates to improvements in the construction of electron discharge devices and more particularly to discharge devices in which the electrodes are supported from opposite ends of an evacuated receptacle.

In a discharge device of this type the overall length of the device is necessarily limited and it is desirable that the spacing between the different electrodes should be small in order that the device may operate at its highest efliciency. \Vhen the electrodes are closely associated with one another, however, it is of importance that they should be rigidly held 1 against any lateral movement relative to one another in order that short circuiting elfects and variations in the characteristics of the discharge device may be avoided. A limited amount of longitudinal movement of the electrodes, however, is not only permissible but desirable during assembly in order to assist in the sealing of the receptacle at one end thereof.

It is one of the objects of my invention to F725 provide an efficient and inexpensive means to prevent relative lateral movement between the electrodes of a discharge device but to permit relative longitudinal movement between the electrodes during assembly.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my'invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, will best be understood from reference to the following '35 specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 shows a front elevation partly broken away of an electron discharge device which embodies the features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the arrangement for preventing relative lateral movement of the electrodes while Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the anode construction together with a portion of a support member. Referring to the drawing, I have indicated at 1 an evacuated container provided with glass stems 2 and 3 at opposite ends thereof and terminating in metallic caps 19 and 20. r j Mounted on the stem 2 is a clamp 4 which is provided with a metal closure portion at one end thereof to which a lava insulator 5 is attached by means of a pair of screws 6. An anode 7 which is substantially rectangular in cross section, is connected to the clamp or sleeve 4 by means of a plurality of pairs of wires 8 which are fastened at one end to the projecting ribs 9 on the outer anode surface. The sleeve is connected by a lead to an external contact member 21 whereby current may be supplied to the anode.

The grid member 10 of the discharge device comprises, in the present instance, a wire mesh 11, although the particular type of grid is immaterial so far as my invention is concerned. Wire mesh 11 is mounted on supporting rods 12 which are carried by a metal plate 13 preferably of nickel permanently secured to a clamp 14 mounted on the glass stem 3. A lava or other suitable insulator 15 is mounted adjacent the ends of rods 12, as indicated in Fig.2, and carries supporting means 16 for the filamentary cathode 17. The filament may constitute a double M, the two outer terminals of each M'being connected together in the manner shown by a lead 22 and taken out to an external contact 23; The intermediate terminals of the M-shaped strands are joined together by a lead 2a which is connected to a contact member 25. Between the contact members 23 and 25, there is positioned a metallic strip member 26 placed on edge and serving to conduct current to the grid 10 through the grid clamp 1 1. Rods 12 extend beyond the insulator 15 and 'slidably engage cooperating openings 18 in the insulator 5 to thereby lock the electrodes against relative lateral motion.

In the assembly of the discharge device, anode 7 is sealed into one end of the container 1, and the cathode 17 and gride member 10 are then inserted through the opposite end of the container and anode 7 until rods 12 engage and extend through the openings 18 in the insulator 5. As thus arranged, the spacing between the electrodes is rigidly maintained although provision is made for a certain'amount of relative longitudinal movement of the electrodes during assembly or operation of the discharge device.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a pair of electrodes, an insulator associated with one of said electrodes, said insulator being provided with a plurality of openings, an insulator associated with the other'electrode and mounted adjacent said first mentioned insulator, and a plurality of rods connected to said second mentioned insulator and adapted to slidably engage the openings in said first mentioned insulator to thereby prevent relative lateral movement of the electrodes. 7

2. In combination, a container, a hollow anode, and means for supporting the anode from one end of the container, an electrode support mounted on the opposite end of said container and extending within said anode and an insulator slidably engaging said electrode support and rigidly mounted with respect to said anode.

3. In combination, a container, a hollow anode, and means for supporting the anode from one end of the container, an electrode support mounted at the opposite end of said container and extending within said anode, a plurality of insulators mounted on said electrode support, one of said insulators being rigidly mounted with respect to the anode the other of said insulators providing a support for a filamentary cathode.

4. In combination, an electric device comprising a container, a pair of electrodes mounted therein, a pair of spaced insulators mounted adjacent one end of the container, one of said insulators being rigidly mounted with respect to one of said electrodes and provided with openings adapted to slidably engage a support for another of the electrodes, said support including the remaining insulator.

5. In combination, an electric device comprising a container, a plurality of electrodes mounted therein, an insulator rigidly mounted with respect to one of the electrodes and mounted adjacent one end of the container, a second insulator mounted adjacent the .first mentioned insulator and adapted to support one of said electrodes, and means for supporting a third electrode and adapted to engage both of said insulators.

6. In combination, a container having a reentrant portion, a metallic collar mounted thereon, an electrode connected to said collar, an insulator mounted on and secured to the I collar and provided with a plurality ofopenings, a second electrode mounted in the container, said second electrode being provided with means adapted to slidably engage the openings in said first mentioned insulator.

V 7. In combination, an electric discharge device comprising acontainer, an anode and control electrode mounted therein, means for supportingthe anode fromone end of the container, an insulator rigidly supported from the same end and provided with a plurality of openings, means including a pluralityof rods'for supporting the control electrode from the opposite end of the container and within the anode, said rods slidably engaging the openings in said insulator to thereby prevent relative lateral movement of the anode and control electrode.

8. In combination, a container and a pair of electrodes, means for supporting the electrodes from opposite ends of the container, means associated with the electrodes for locking the latter against relative lateral motion, said locking means including a pair of spaced, substantially parallel insulators mounted at one end of the container, one of said insulators being rigidly mounted with respect to one of said electrodes, and the other insulator being connected to the other of said electrodes. a r

In witness whereof, I havehereunto set my hand this 26th day of January, 1926.

l/VILLIAM A. RUGGLES. 

